INDECISION: a good way to move nowhere
A Prospective Client of mine recently reached out with a plea for assistance.
“I need help! I have a project approaching, I have some ideas, but I need to fine tune my approach. I want to be ready for questions, and have the right presentation. I need to be the most informed person in the room, and I want everyone to be well informed when I finish!”
The plea was followed by a few email communications, which asserted that the need was NOW!
Making time for a Prospective Client or Client can be a must, especially under such pressure. I agreed to meet THAT DAY, at their convenience. Despite icy and winding remote roads, I blocked out the afternoon, and spent the remains of the day discussing their need. Good information, and while the projects scope changed a bit in our meeting, we identified a point where our process should move forward. My Prospective Client identified a specific date to schedule the session for building strategy and planning for the meeting.
Then…..silence.
Several calls and communications later, with no response, I could begin to ask if perhaps I had done something wrong. Just shy of identifying a point at which things went strange and out of bounds, the real answer is “No. There is likely indecision that has entered the picture.”
People have a variety of reason why they do not pursue well planned strategies:
- Price – the obvious killed of many GREAT ideas, and likely a COMMODITY decision
- Distractions – these can happen at any time, and depending on personal style, can block vision
- Focus – Is this person serious about the request, or is this simply the flavor of the moment?
- One More Thing – too many issues, and not enough people to assist.
Or, maybe it is…..
- Indecision – A word that reveals a gamut of reasons, most of which are driven by an inability to establish a sound platform for actually moving forward.
Decisions can be difficult. On a minor scale, it an be something as simple as finding the place to have lunch, but you can’t decide. It can be as major as having a critical deadline, and a decision based on the options is too daunting. Regardless of reason, the fact is that not making a decision will only accomplish one thing: that a decision will not be made.
Ultimately, RELATIONSHIPS, REOURCES, TIME, MONEY, and PROGRESS, amongst other things, are jeopardized or wasted due to indecision. Worse yet, when others are affected by lack of decision, TRUST can be lost by those who are relying on good decision making: a facet of relationships that might be permanently lost.
So what became of my Prospective Client? Who knows? They have yet to respond, and their deadline is still approaching. Perhaps they have found another answer, or direction, or perhaps they are hiding under a rock. I am hopeful for their wellbeing, but the quality of their response and lack of communication leads me to wonder how much more I can put into the solution if they reappear: there are other things going on that might take priority due to greater reliability of other Clients.
When it comes to a decision, why let INDECISION take the lead? Consider making the one decision that will help the process move forward: stop at the MILE MARKER. Mile Marker Business and Consulting Services, LLC knows how difficult decisions can be, and has the acumen to help navigate through obstacles that create indecision. Let’s start a conversation!
David Alexander
Mile Marker Business and Consulting Services, LLC
513-295-7196